JAY — Spruce Mountain High School senior Erik Taylor has successfully balanced academics and extracurricular activities to make the most of his high school experience.

For his contributions to the school, he has earned the 2014 Principal’s Award. The award is presented annually at Maine high schools to the student who best balances academics and different school and community activities. Principals at each school select one senior for the honor.

“Erik definitely has proven himself to be an outstanding citizen,” said Principal T.J. Plourde. “His involvement in a wide range of activities definitely made him a great candidate for the Principal’s Award.”

“It kind of came as a surprise,” said Taylor. “Obviously, I was very thankful that he thought so highly of me.”

This is one of a series of honors that Taylor has received this semester. At the Maine Association of Basketball Coaches (MABC) banquet during McDonald’s All-Star Weekend on March 7-8, he won a $2,000 scholarship as the MABC’s top Academic All-Star.

He has also been awarded a Certificate of Merit for his advancement as a finalist in the 2014 National Merit Scholarship Program. Taylor became a semifinalist in the fall after receiving one of the highest 2013 PSAT scores in the state.

For the past three years, he’s been a member of the Spruce Mountain Area FIRST Robotics Team. Taylor is also part of Boy Scouts, earning his Eagle Scout certification recently for building four exercise stations in the recreation area behind the high school.

He was captain of the varsity soccer team last fall, and has played basketball all four years of high school. He was on the baseball team his freshman and sophomore years.

Other in-school activities that Taylor has been involved with include Math Team, where he has been Spruce Mountain High School’s high scorer for three straight years; Student Council, where he is the President; National Honor Society; and Envirothon. Outside of school, he is the President of the LEO’s Club, a service organization affiliated with the Lions Club.

Taylor is also President of the local Explorer Post, where students do hiking, camping, and other outdoor activities while learning about the environment.

He will be studying biomedical engineering in college, continuing with his love of math and science. Both of his parents, Rob and Julie, are teachers. His sister, Emily, is also one of the top students in the senior class, so it’s clear that a passion for education runs in the family.

A banquet was held for all of the Principal’s Award recipients last Saturday in Bangor. Many scholarships were presented during the evening, with students selected at random for the awards.